12 Nov Children in the east of England treating their way to health time bomb
CHILDREN in the east of England are eating twice their recommended daily sugar intake – in sweet treats alone.
Research to mark Sugar Awareness Week shows kids in the region are eating the equivalent of two-and-a-half 1kg bags of sugar a year just by going to friends’ birthday parties.
Easter weekend sees east of England children consume an average of 510g of sugar, 299g at Halloween – and over the Christmas period a huge 1,911g.
The government recommends that children aged 16 should eat an average of no more than 30g per day (27g for girls and 33g for boys), with 24g for 7-10-year-olds and 10g for 4-6-year-olds.
But parents of under-16s in the east of England say their children are eating 51g of sugar on a typical school day just by eating extra treats, according to a survey for natural sweetener NatVia by Atomik Research.
Paul Evans, Vice Chairman of the British Obesity Society and Operations Director for School Health UK, said: “This worrying survey shows British children are treating their way to a health timebomb.
“Eating too much sugar is linked to obesity, heart problems, tooth decay and diabetes – and it will cost the NHS millions to treat these diseases in the future.”
Parents in the east of England claim their kids are eating on average four biscuits, three chocolate bars, two cans of fizzy drink and three cups of fruit juice during a typical school week day.
Children in the region attend an average of nine birthday parties a year where they consume an average of 320g of sugar at each one by munching on cake and bags of sweets, among other sugary treats.
This means that east of England children are eating an average of 2,880g of sugar at birthday parties alone over the course of the year.
